A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Porto for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Porto?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Porto can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Porto?

Arusha

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.

Porto

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. It is also the capital of the Northern Region and a hub for commercial and industrial activity. The city is not as large as you might expect, with a population of only about 300,000 residents, but the metropolitan area has a population of about 2.5 million. This includes nearby cities such as Gaia, Matosinhos, Maia and Gondomar.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Portugal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Portugal.


Which place is cheaper, Porto or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $189, while the average daily cost in Porto is $185. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arusha and Porto in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $126
    Porto $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $252
    Porto $166
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Porto

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Porto? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Arusha


Hotels in Porto


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arusha Hotel Prices and Porto Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $13
    Porto $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $130
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40
  • Arusha Airport and Hotel Transfer: $35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Porto

Also for Porto, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer- Porto to Douro Wine Region (or reverse): $49
  • Transfer from porto airport to Porto city (or return): $115
  • Transfer Taxi Service Porto , Gaia , Airport , Train , Bus , Ship: $62
  • Transfer Porto to Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport: $20
  • Transfer Porto Centro to Airport (OPO): $41
  • Transfer Oporto - Aeroport / Up to 4 passengers: $29
  • Transfer Airport (OPO) - Porto Centro: $46
  • São Pedro to Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU)-Departure Transfer: $122
  • Private transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Oporto: $544
  • Private transfer from Porto to Porto Airport: $46
  • Private transfer between Porto and Lisbon - up to 5 stops: $232
  • Private airport transfers from Porto to various cities.: $23

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Porto?

Prices for flights to both Porto and Arusha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Arusha $40
    Porto $73
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.09

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $45
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
  • Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $55
  • Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $192

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Porto

For Porto, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Vegan Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Port Wine: $41
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Lapa): $41
  • Pastel de Nata Cooking Class with Porto Wine (Sé do Porto): $41
  • Porto Food Tour Market Tapas and Port Wine Cellar Experience: $70
  • Authentic Porto Small Group Food Tour with Local Tastings: $86
  • Shopping, cooking and eating together at my home in Porto: $87
  • Aveiro Private Cooking Experience (for vacation rental guests): $87
  • Small Group Porto Food Tour Traditional Taverns and Local Dishes: $87
  • Porto Food Tour: $87
  • Private Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $93
  • Food Tour: Wine, Beer & Liquor - Porto’s Secret Spots: $93
  • Porto Food Tour of 8 Tastings: Custard Tart, Bifana & Hidden Gems: $96

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $44
    Porto $29

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
  • 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
  • 1-Day Materuni Waterfalls, Coffee Tour and Chemka Hot Spring: $100
  • 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
  • 2 Day Mount Meru Private Camping Tour from Arusha: $280
  • A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
  • Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $120
  • Arusha A Walking City Tour Museum Culture and Everyday Life: $60
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140

Tours and Activities in Porto

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Porto.

  • "Exclusive Vintage VW Kombi Private Tour (2-8 People)": $284
  • 1 Day Tour to Douro Valley from Porto: $220
  • 3-Hour Guided Walking Tour of Porto: $32
  • 3-Hour Porto Highlights on a Electric Bike Guided Tour: $51
  • 3-Hour Porto Jewish Heritage Walking Tour with Local Guide: $35
  • 3D Fun Art Museum Porto Ticket: $15
  • 3h30 tour in Porto by Tuk Tuk: $114
  • 4 Hour Blissful Wave Experience at Maceda Haven: $81
  • 4-hour sightseeing tour in Porto: $52
  • 50-Minute Private Douro River Cruise with Panoramic Views: $23
  • 516 Arouca Bridge, Paiva Walkways and Aveiro Tour: $133
  • AVEIRO COSTA NOVA AND COIMBRA Private Tour from Porto: $223

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $10
    Porto $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Porto

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Porto:

  • Crazy Pub Crawl with 9 Drinks, Free Shots, Wild Games +VIP: $15
  • Porto:Pub Crawl 4Bars,8Drinks,Games & VIP Club Entry: $21
  • Chocolate and Wine Tasting Activity in Matosinhos Portugal: $24
  • Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 2 DOC Douro & 1 Port Wine: $27
  • Poças Guided Visit and Wine Tasting of 3 Port Wines: $27
  • Premium wine tasting at Quinta das Arcas: $28
  • Classic Wine Tasting with GUIDED TOUR: $29
  • Taylor's Port Cellars Visit & Port Wine Tasting: $29
  • Fado Concert with Port Wine Tasting at Quinta da Boeira: $29
  • Authentic Oporto Walking Tour with Wine Tasting: $32
  • Cálem Cellar Tour, Live Fado Show and Wine Tasting: $32
  • Porto City Tour with Wine Tasting: $39


When comparing the travel costs between Arusha and Porto, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Arusha is in Africa and Porto is in Europe, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Porto Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Porto?

Arusha has a larger population, and is about 37% larger than the population of Porto. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Porto, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.